Hunt heads to Aussie Rules via French rugby union

Former NRL star Karmichael Hunt is playing rugby in France before switching to Aussie Rules in 2011. Photo / Getty Images

BIARRITZ - Australian rugby league star Karmichael Hunt has touched down at French rugby union club Biarritz in a move that leaves him one step closer to achieving a unique sporting treble.

The 23-year-old former Brisbane Broncos player has a lucrative contract to play for Aussie rules outfit Gold Coast in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2011, which would make him the first Australian footballer in the professional era to play NRL, AFL and rugby union.

Biarritz said Hunt, who was not deemed a foreign player as he was registered as a Cook Islands citizen - thus qualifying as a player from an emerging nation, signed up to the Top 14 team to test himself in rugby union.

"He has enormous potential and a great desire to succeed," said Biarritz's Australian coach Jack Isaac.

"We'll leave him the time to adapt but with such a player that should come quite quickly."

Biarritz, with regular backs Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, Philippe Bidabe and Yann Fior all out injured, reportedly signed Hunt on a six-month contract that Australian media said was worth around A$300,000 ($370,000).

The Australian newspaper cited Hunt, who has not played union since his school days, as saying he was confident he could make the grade in the 15-a-side game.

"I think I am as ready as I can be," he said, quoted by the paper.

"It has been a little while since I played any rugby (union), but I am not too worried about that.

"In the past 24 hours I have just been running over a few things in my head, just remembering how I used to play the game and thinking about all the rules and little technical changes I will need to be straight with by the time I get to the club.

"I think I will be fine. In terms of mindset and preparation, not much changes from what I have been doing the past six years in Brisbane.

"Obviously they are different games and there is different rules and tactics, but I think that will come back pretty quickly once I start training with the team and getting my head around how they play and what the coaching staff will want from me."

Hunt, born in New Zealand to a Samoan father and Cook Islander mother, was not keen to be pigeon-holed in any one position, having played centre and fullback at school, and fullback in rugby league.